Benghazi report could create bombshell for Clinton in 2016

Republicans in Congress are prepared to wait until the height of the campaign season before publishing a report investigating Hillary Clinton's response to the Benghazi attack.

A U.S. House Select Committee is probing the 2012 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, which Clinton was involved closely with as secretary of state. Originally, the report was expected to be released by the end of this year, but a spokesman told Bloomberg it will be not be completed until sometime next year.

While some might see the move as politically motivated, Rep. Trey Gowdy, chairman of the committee, insisted that Clinton's bid for the White House "does not and will not impact the work of the committee."

"Factors beyond the committee's control, including witness availability, compliance with documents requests, the granting of security clearances and accreditations -- all of which are controlled by the Executive branch -- could continue to impact the timing of the inquiry's conclusion," the committee's spokesman said in a statement.

Various committees in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives have been investigating the attack closely since 2013, including whether Clinton failed to bolster security during or leading up to the attack.

Members of the Democratic party have criticized their Republican colleagues for launching a total of seven probes into the deadly incident in which Islamic militants attacked the American diplomatic compound in Libya, killing a U.S. ambassador and three others.